Project PHYSNET Physics Bldg.

Michigan State University East Lansing, MI

MISN-0-138
AMPERES LAW
1
AMPERES LAW
by
Kirby Morgan
1. Usefullness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. The Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
a. The Integral Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
b. Determining Signs () . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Simple Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
a. Magnetic Field Near a Long Thin Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
b. B Outside a Long Cylindrical Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
c. B Inside a Long Cylindrical Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
d. Innite Plane of Adjacent Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4. Example Devices
a. The Solenoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
b. Calculating the Field of a Solenoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
c. The Toroid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Using Current Density
a. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
b. The Current Through a Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
c. Amperes Law in Terms of the Current Density . . . . . . . . . . 9
d. Example: Hollow Conducting Cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A. Line Integrals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
B. Projection of an Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2
ID Sheet: MISN-0-138
Title: Amperes Law
Author: Kirby Morgan, HandiComputing, 319 E. Henry, Charlotte, MI
48813
Version: 2/1/2000 Evaluation: Stage 0
Length: 1 hr; 32 pages
Input Skills:
1. Vocabulary: current density (MISN-0-118); tesla (MISN-0-122).
2. Using the Ampere-Laplace-Biot-Savart equation, calculate the
magnetic eld due to a current in a long straight wire (MISN-
0-125).
3. Take the line integral of a vector function over a specied integra-
tion path (Appendix).
Output Skills (Knowledge):
K1. Vocabulary: line integral, solenoid, toroid, Amperes law.
K2. State Amperes law for currents and dene each symbol.
K3. Describe how one can determine the direction of magnetic elds
produced by a current segment.
K4. State Amperes law for current densities and dene each symbol.
Output Skills (Problem Solving):
S1. Use Amperes law to calculate the magnetic eld due to symmet-
rical congurations of current such as long straight wires, innite
planes of current, solenoids and toroids.
S2. Given a current density in a conductor of simple geometric shape,
use Amperes law to calculate the associated magnetic eld.
Post-Options:
1. The Ampere-Maxwell Equation: Displacement Current (MISN-
0-145).
2. Maxwells Equations (MISN-0-146).
3
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4
MISN-0-138 1
AMPERES LAW
by
Kirby Morgan
1. Usefullness
Amperes law is a part of Maxwells equations: it relates magnetic
elds to electric currents that produce them.
1
Using Amperes law, you
can determine the magnetic eld associated with a given current or the
current associated with a given magnetic eld, providing there is no time-
changing electric eld present. Amperes law is particularly useful in
situations where there exists a high degree of geometrical symmetry, just
as is the case with Gausss law.
2
Fortunately, many applications have
such symmetry.
2. The Law
2a. The Integral Relationship. Gausss law and Amperes law have
some similarities, although Gausss law involves a surface integral,
Gausss law:
_
S

E d

S = 4k
e
Q
S
,
1
See Maxwells Equations (MISN-0-146).
2
See Gausss Law and Spherically Distributed Charges (MISN-0-132).
B
`
C
`
d
`
l
Figure 1. An in-
tegration path C in
a magnetic eld B.
The associated cur-
rents are not shown.
5
MISN-0-138 2
current
in - direction
current
in + direction
Figure 2. A right-hand rule assigns a sign to each current
bounded by the loop C.
while Amperes law involves a line integral:
3
Amperes law:
_
C

B d

= 4k
m
I
C
. (1)
Here:
k
m
is the magnetic force constant.

_
C
denotes integration along a closed imaginary line C.
4
The closed
imaginary line for any particular problem is usually called the in-
tegration loop or path for that problem. The line must pass
through the point where you want to know the magnetic eld.
I
C
denotes the net electric current passing through any (imaginary)
surface whose boundary is the same closed line C used in
_
C
(see
Fig. 1).
5
d is an innitesimal element of length along the integration line.
The direction of integration around the line is arbitrary, but once
taken it xes the direction of current that must be called positive.
The relevant rule will be taken up later.
3
See the Appendix of this module for a discussion of line integrals.
4
The word closed means that the line has no end so it must be a closed loop.
5
All surfaces bounded by the same line give the same value for I
C
.
6
MISN-0-138 3
wire
I out of page
r
`
d
`
l
B
`
Figure 3.

B and d

are both
tangent to C, the circular inte-
gration path.
2b. Determining Signs (). The algebraic sign () of any current
enclosed by the integration loop in Amperes law is determined by a right-
hand rule:
A current is taken to be positive if it points in the direction of the
thumb on the right hand when the ngers of that hand encircle the
loop in the direction that the line integral is taken (see Fig. 2). If it
is in the opposite direction, the current must be taken as negative.
3. Simple Applications
3a. Magnetic Field Near a Long Thin Wire. The magnetic eld

B at some point in space, associated with a current I in a long straight

wire, can be calculated using Amperes law. The integration path we
choose is a circle, centered on the wire (see Fig. 3) and going through the
point where we wish to know

B. By symmetry, we expect the magnetic
eld to have the same magnitude at all points on the circle and we expect
the magnetic eld to be tangent to the circle at each point on that circle.
6
Since d

is also tangent to the circle,

B d

= B d and the loop integral

is simply B
_
d and
_
d is just the circumference of the circle. Calling
the radius of the circle r, which is also the distance from the wire to the
point where we wish to know

B, Amperes law gives:
(B)(2r) = 4k
m
I , (2)
6
See The Magnetic Field of a Current: The Ampere-Laplace Equation (MISN-0-
125) for a proof that this is so.
7
MISN-0-138 4
r
`
R
`
surface
of wire
Figure 4. Circular path of integra-
tion for a current uniformly distributed
throughout the cross section.
so:
B = 2k
m
_
I
r
_
. (long straight wire) . (3)
If the wire is not innitely long, and no wire is, this value of B is accurate
to the extent that r is much less than the distance from the eld-point to
either end of the wire.
7
3b. B Outside a Long Cylindrical Conductor. Amperes law can
be used to show that the magnetic eld at points outside a long circular
cylinder carrying a current uniformly distributed over its cross section is
the same as if all the current were concentrated in a line along the axis.
For points outside the cylinder, a circular path of integration will enclose
all of the current and, again by symmetry,

B and d

are parallel. By the

same analysis that was used for the long wire, we nd:
B = 2k
m
_
I
r
_
; r > R, (4)
where r is the distance from the center of the wire and R is the radius of
the cylinder.
3c. B Inside a Long Cylindrical Conductor. The magnetic eld
at a point inside a cylindrical conductor carrying a current depends on
how the current is distributed. If it is uniformly distributed over its cross
section and a circular path of integration is again chosen (see Fig. 4), the
fraction of the current enclosed by the path will be r
2
/R
2
, so that
Amperes law gives:
(B)(2r) = 4k
m
I
_
r
2
R
2
_
, (5)
7
See Gausss Law Applied to Cylindrical and Planar Charge Distributions (MISN-
0-133) for the electrostatic equivalent, a line of xed charge, where the much less than
condition is also discussed.
8
MISN-0-138 5
B
`
C
B
`
d
d
l
Figure 5. Rectangular in-
tegration path for the innite
plane of wires.
Figure 6. The mag-
netic eld outside a
solenoid of nite length.
or
B = 2k
m
_
I r
R
2
_
. (6)
Note that the magnetic eld is linearly proportional to r, the distance of
the eld point from the axis.
Note: For the case where the current resides only on the surface of the
cylinder, no current would be enclosed by the integration path and the
magnetic eld would be zero at all points inside such a surface conduc-
tor.
3d. Innite Plane of Adjacent Wires. Amperes law can be used to
nd the magnetic eld due to a conductor consisting of an innite plane
of adjacent wires. The wires are innitely long (or are long enough to be
regarded as such) and each carries a current I. By symmetry, you would
expect

B to be parallel to the plane: then a rectangular integration path
of length which extends a distance d on each side of the plane would
be a good choice (see Fig. 5). Along the sides of the path, normal to the
plane,

B is perpendicular to d

so
_

B d

is zero there. Then Amperes

law yields:
_

B d

= 2B = 4k
m
nI , (7)
where n is the number of wires per unit length and n is the total number
enclosed. Solving for B gives:
B = 2k
m
nI . (8)
9
MISN-0-138 6
x x x x x x x x x
l
Figure 7. The integration path for
a very long solenoid having B = 0
outside.
This equation indicates that the eld associated with an innite plane of
current is independent of the distance from the plane.
4. Example Devices
4a. The Solenoid. A solenoid is a tightly wound cylindrical helix
of current-carrying wire, used to make an electrical signal cause a one-
directional mechanical force (for example, operating a plunger). Solenoids
are frequently encountered in science and technology; there are at least
several in every car. The magnetic eld inside a solenoid can be easily
found using Amperes law. The external magnetic eld due to a solenoid of
nite length is quite similar to that of a bar magnet (see Fig. 6). However,
if the solenoid is very long, (i.e., if its length is much greater than its
radius), the eld outside is essentially zero, and inside the solenoid it is
uniform and parallel to the solenoids axis (see Fig. 7).
8
4b. Calculating the Field of a Solenoid. The magnitude of

B inside
a solenoid can be found by applying Amperes law to the rectangular
integration path shown in Fig. 7. Outside the solenoid

B is zero. Inside,

B is at right angles to the ends of the rectangle so the only non-zero

contribution to the integral is along the length that is inside the solenoid.
Therefore: _
C

B d

= B . (9)
8
Look at the solenoid in Fig. 6 and notice that the magnetic eld lines are much
more dense inside the solenoid than outside it. Imagine making the solenoid longer
and longer, during which the density inside remains constant but the density outside
becomes more and more sparce.
10
MISN-0-138 7
r
I
I
circle of
integration
Figure 8. A toroid.
r
`
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
C
Figure 9. The circular
path of integration in-
side a toroid.
The net current through the rectangle is nI, where n is the number of
turns per unit length over the entire length . Amperes law then gives
for the magnetic eld:
B = 4k
m
nI , (solenoid) (10)
indicating a uniform eld.
4c. The Toroid. A toroid is a solenoid that has been bent into a
circle, assuming the space-saving shape of a doughnut (see Fig. 8). The
magnetic eld inside a toroid carrying a current I can be found using
Amperes law. By symmetry, the magnetic eld is tangent to the circular
integration path shown in Fig. 9. Therefore:
_
C

B d

= (B)(2r) , (11)
and the enclosed current is NI, where N is the total number of turns on
the solendoid. Then:
B = 2k
m
_
NI
r
_
. (12)
Notice that, unlike the solenoid, the magnetic eld inside the toroid is
not constant over the cross section of the coil but varies inversely as the
distance r. For points outside a toroid, it can be shown that the eld is es-
sentially zero if the turns of wire are very close together. Help: [S-1]
11
MISN-0-138 8
j
`
ds
n
^
Figure 10. The current density

j is not always
along the normal n to an arbitrary surface ele-
ment dS.
5. Using Current Density
5a. Introduction. Just as it is often useful to use the concept of
charge density in electrostatics, in magnetics we often use the concept of
current density. Charge density is a scalar and has three varieties: linear,
surface and volume. Current density is a vector and has one variety.
Current density has a non-zero value only at those space-points where
there are charges owing so there is an electric current: it is the net
amount of charge going through the space-point per unit time, per unit
area perpendicular to the direction of the current. The direction of the
current density vector is the direction of the electric current at the space-
point in question. The universal symbol for the current density is

j(r),
where the argument indicates that the current density may change as one
moves from one space-point to another.
9
5b. The Current Through a Surface. We now assume we know
the current density

j at various space-points of interest and we want to
nd the I
C
used in Amperes law, Eq. (1). We start with

j at the point
of a surface element dS having a normal unit vector n. We want to know
how much current dI is passing through this element of surface. Since

j
is the current per unit area normal to the current, we must multiply by
an element of area dA normal to the current (see Fig. 10). If we know dS,
n
S
, and

j, we can get dA by (see Appendix B):
dA =

j ndS .
Substituting dI = jdA we get:
dI =

j ndS . (13)
For the special case of a uniform current owing perpendicular to a plane
surface of area A, the equation simplies to I = jA; a simple statement
9
Of course

j may also be a function of time but we are not dealing with that case
here.
12
MISN-0-138 9
C
a
r
b
Figure 11. A hollow conducting
cylinder with a non-uniform current
density j = k/r.
that the current is the current density times area.
Finally, we integrate both sides of Eq. (13) to get:
I
C
=
_
S

j ndS . (14)
5c. Amperes Law in Terms of the Current Density. Amperes
law may be rewritten in terms of the current density, using Eqs. (1) and
(14), giving:
_
C

B d

= 4k
m
_
S

j ndS . (15)
Here C is the closed path around the perimeter of the surface S.
5d. Example: Hollow Conducting Cylinder. What is the mag-
netic eld at points inside a hollow conducting cylinder which is made
such that its current density varies inversely as the distance from the cen-
ter of the cylinder? The conductor is shown in Fig. 11 and the current
density in this problem is:
j =
k
r
; a < r < b , (16)
where k is a constant. If a circular integration path is chosen, the current
enclosed by it, the right side of Eqs. (1) and (15), is:
I
C
=
_
r
a
k
r

2r

dr

= 2k(r a) . a < r < b Help: [S-2] (17)

Amperes law then gives:
B = 4k
m
k
_
r a
r
_
, a < r < b (18)
13
MISN-0-138 10
for the magnetic eld within the conducting material. Help: [S-3]
Acknowledgments
This module is based on an earlier version by J. Kovacs and O.
McHarris. The Model Exam is taken from that version. Ray G. Van
Ausdal provided editorial assistance. Preparation of this module was
supported in part by the National Science Foundation, Division of Science
Education Development and Research, through Grant #SED 74-20088 to
Michigan State University.
Glossary
Amperes law: the integral form of one of Maxwells equations:
_
C

B d

= 4k
m
I
C
.
It relates the integral of the magnetic eld around a closed loop to the
net current owing through any surface bounded by the integration
loop. Amperes law is universally true, but is useful only when there is
a high degree of symmetry.
current density: a vector whose magnitude at a space point is the
current per unit area normal to the direction of the current at that
point and whose direction is the direction of the current at that point.
line integral: the integral of a function along a specied path in
space. In Amperes law one evaluates the line integral of the tangential
component of the magnetic eld around a closed path that: (i) goes
through the point at which one wishes to know the magnetic eld; and
(ii) is such that it has a constant value for the integrand so the integral
can be performed trivially.
solenoid: a tightly wound cylindrical helix of current-carrying wire.
toroid: a solenoid bent into the shape of a doughnut.
14
MISN-0-138 11
A. Line Integrals
a
b
1
2
3 . . .
B
^
i
q
Dl
i
`
Figure 12.
The line integral
_
b
a

B d

,
for the path shown above, can be approximated by dividing the path into
many small segments

i
and for each segment the product
B
i
cos
i

i
can be found. Here B
i
cos
i
is the component of

B tangent to the curve.
The integral can be calculated approximately by summing these segments
terms, for example, on a computer. However, the exact value of the line
integral is given by the limit:
_
b
a

B d

= lim
n

i=1
B
i
cos
i

i
.
If a is joined to b, the path becomes closed and the resultant integral
_
C

B d

is around the closed path C. Often, the calculation of this integral is

highly simplied by utilizing a path that takes advantage of symmetries
in the problem. Two examples of such simplications are:
(i)

B is constant and always tangent to the path:
_
b
a

B d

=
_
b
a
B d = B
_
b
a
d = B
ab
,
15
MISN-0-138 12
where
ab
is the length of the path from a to b.
(ii)

B is always perpendicular to the path:
_
b
a

B d

= 0 .
B. Projection of an Area
If a planar (at) area S is projected onto another plane, the area A
on the projected-onto plane is given by:
A =

j nS . (19)
Here n is a unit vector normal to the plane
of the original area and

j is a unit vector
normal to the projected-onto plane (see
the sketch). This is entirely equivalent to
the statement that the areas are related by
the cosine of the angle between the planes
(again see the sketch):
j
^
n
^
S
A
q
A = S cos . (20)
By projection we mean that from every point on the periphery of
the original area S we drop a perpendicular to the projected-onto plane.
The locus of those points on the projected-onto plane dene the periphery
of the projected area A.
Equations (19)-(20) are easily proved by considering innitesimally-
wide straight line elements of the area A that are normal to the line of
intersection of the two planes. For each such element there is a projection
of it onto the projected-onto plane, and the areas of the two elements are
obviously related by the cosine of the angle between the planes. Since the
areas themselves are simply the integrals of the innitesimal areas, and
since the angle between the planes is independent of where one is in one of
the areas, the cosine can be pulled outside the integral and Eqs. (19)-(20)
are proved.
If the area S is curved (non-planar) then Eqs. (19)-(20) apply only
to innitesimal areas (which can be considered to be planar for these
16
MISN-0-138 13
purposes):
dA =

j ndS .
17
MISN-0-138 PS-1
PROBLEM SUPPLEMENT
Note: Problems 8, 9, and 10 also occur in this modules Model Exam.
1. Three innitely long parallel wires each carry a current I in the
direction shown below. What is
_

Bd for each of the three paths C
1
,
C
2
, and C
3
?
x
x
C
1
C
3
C
2
2. The magnetic eld in a certain region of space is given by

B = A
0
x x
where A
0
= 3 T/m, x is the x-coordinate of the point, and
x is a unit vector in the x-direction. In this region, con-
sider a rectangular path in the x-y plane whose sides are
parallel to the x and y axes respectively as shown below.
C
B A
D
y =3m
y =1m
x =1m x =5m
a. Evaluate the line integral of

B from A to B.
b. Do the same along the line from B to C.
18
MISN-0-138 PS-2
c. For C to D.
d. For D to A.
e. Evaluate the
_

B d around this closed path.
f. Determine the net current that must be crossing the x-y plane
through the rectangle ABCD.
3. A long cylindrical conductor of radius R has a uniform current density

j spread over its cross section. Determine the magnetic eld produced
at points r < R and r > R and sketch the magnitude of

B as a
function of r.
4. A very long non-conducting cylinder has N conduct-
ing wires placed tightly together around its circumfer-
ence and running parallel to its axis as shown below:
R
If each wire carries a current I, nd the magnetic eld at points
inside and outside the cylinder.
5.
a
b
A hollow cylindrical conductor of radii a and b has a current I uni-
formly spread over its cross section.
19
MISN-0-138 PS-3
a. Show that the magnetic eld inside the conductor (a < r < b) is:
B =
2k
m
I
_
r
2
a
2
_
(b
2
a
2
) r
b. Express B in terms of the current density j.
c. Show that when a 0 you get the same answer as in problem 3.
6. A long coaxial cable consists of two concentric conduc-
tors. The outside conductor carries a current I equal to
that in the inside conductor, but in the opposite direction.
a
c
b
Find the magnetic eld at these points:
a. inside the inner conductor (r < a),
b. between the conductors (a < r < b),
c. inside the outer conductor (b < r < c), and
d. outside the cable (r > c).
7.
Uniform current density j
`
directed out of the page
to
t
An innite, plane, conducting slab of thickness t carries a uniform
current density of j amperes per square meter directed out of the
page in the above diagram.
20
MISN-0-138 PS-4
a. Apply Amperes law to determine the magnetic eld at a height h
above the center line of the slab for h > t/2. Explain carefully how
you make use of symmetry in setting up your integration path.
b. Suppose your integration path had been a rectangular loop with
two sides parallel to the slab surface (as you must have used), but
with one parallel path a distance h above the center line and the
other a distance h

below the center line (both h and h

are greater
than t/2). Explain in this case, and without prior knowledge of
your nal answer, why Amperes law cannot tell you

B at points
h above the slab. Then show how the use of symmetry arguments
solves the problem.
c. Use the answer to part (a) and Amperes law to determine the
magnetic eld at points a distance y below the surface of the slab,
inside the material. What is the eld at the center line? Sketch
the direction of the eld at various points inside the slab.
8.
C
B A
D
3.0
y(m)
1.0
1.0 0
x(m)
5.0
B = 1.0 10
1
xteslas everywhere.
In a certain region of space, the magnetic eld intensity is uniform
and has the value of 10 teslas directed in the positive x-direction at
every point in the region. In this region consider a rectangular path
in the x-y plane from point A to point B parallel to the x-axis, B to
C parallel to the y-axis and D back to A parallel to the y-axis (see
the sketch above).
a. Evaluate the line integral of

B from A to B. [N]
b. Do the same for the line from B to C. [B]
c. Do the same for the line from C to D. [I]
21
MISN-0-138 PS-5
d. Do the same for the line from D to A. [P]
e. Evaluate the loop integral
_

B d for this closed path. Use the results
of parts (a)-(d) to nd your answer. [J]
f. From your answer to part (e), determine the net current that must
be crossing the x-y plane through this rectangle ABCD. [A]
9. Repeat Problem 8, parts (a) through (f) for the case where the mag-
netic eld in this region is now given by

B(x, y) = (A
0
+ A
1
y) x
where A
0
= 2.0 T, A
1
= 0.50 T/m and y is the y-coordinate of the
point.
a. [C]
b. [K]
c. [O]
d. [M]
e. [H]
f. [L]
10.
Path 2
Path 1
R
r
B
B
r
A
A
R = radius of the cylindrical conducting wire
j = the current per unit area (distributed uniformly) directed into
the page
r
A
= the distance from the center to point A outside the conductor
22
MISN-0-138 PS-6
r
B
= the distance from the center to point B inside the conductor.
Path 1 (solid line) is a circular path surrounding the cylinder concen-
tric with the cylindrical conductor passing through point A.
Path 2 (dashed line) is an arbitrary path surrounding the conductor,
also passing through point A.
a. What is
_

B d for each of the paths 1 and 2? [F]
b. Explain how symmetry enables you to evaluate

B at point A only
if you use path 1. [G]
Brief Answers:
1. Circular path: Net current = I
_
C1

B d

= 4k
m
I
Rectangular Path: Net Current = I + (I) = 0
_
C1

B d

= 0
Irregular Path: Net Current = I I I = I
_
C1

B d

= 4k
m
I
2. a. 36 mT
b. zero
c. 36 mT
d. zero
e. zero
f.
_

B d

= 0 so I = 0 through rectangle ABCD.

3. r < R: B = 2k
m
jr
r > R: B = 2k
m
jR
2
r
23
MISN-0-138 PS-7
4. r < R: B = 0
r > R: B = 2k
m
NI
r
5. B = 2k
m
j
_
r
2
a
2
r
_
6. a. r < a: B = 2k
m
Ir
a
2
b. a < r < b: B = 2k
m
I
r
c. b < r < c: B = 2k
m
I
r
_
c
2
r
2
c
2
b
2
_
d. r > c: B = 0
7. a.
C
B A
D
t
h
h
Symmetry tells you that the eld, at all points on the line CD, has
the same value directed to the left and this is also the same as the
eld at all points on line AB (but there, directed to the right).
B = 2k
m
jt ,
independent of h if h > t/2 (the slab is innitely long).
24
MISN-0-138 PS-8
b. If the distance below the center line had been h

in the sketch [see

part (a)], then Amperes law would give you Bx +B

x = 4k
m
jtx,
where B

is the eld value at points h

below the center line. Only

if h = h

can you argue that B = B

[as in part (a)] and then

determine B.
c.
Q
P
z
y
B(at P) = 4k
m
j
_
t
2
y
_
directed to the left.
B(at the center line) = 0.
B(at Q) = 4k
m
j
_
t
2
z
_
directed to the right.
Both y and z are less than t/2.
A. A zero net current.
B. Zero
C. +1.0 10
1
Tm
F. Because both paths completely encircle the current,
_

B d is
(4k
m
jR
2
) for both path 1 and path 2.
G. For path 1, symmetry tells you that B is the same (and tangent to the
path) at every point on the path, so
_

B d

= B
_
d = 2rB = 4k
m
jR
2
,
so at point A:
B = 2k
m
jR
2
r
H. 4.0 Tm
25
MISN-0-138 PS-9
I. 4.0 10
1
Tm Help: [S-4]
J.
_

B d

= 0 around the closed path.

K. Zero
L. 3.2 10
6
A, directed into the page.
M. Zero
N. 4.0 10
1
Tm
O. 14 Tm
P. Zero
26
MISN-0-138 AS-1
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE SUPPLEMENT
S-1 (from TX-4c)
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
For any shaped path enclosing the entire toroid, the net current is zero.
By Amperes law,
_
C

B d

= 0 ,
which implies B = 0 since the path is arbitrary.
S-2 (from TX-4e)
I =
_
S

j ndS with

j =
k
r
r, giving:
I =
_
2
0
_
r
a
_
k
r

_
r ( r)r

dr

d
= 2k
_
r
a
_
1
r

_
r

dr

= 2k
_
r
a
dr

= 2kr

|
r
a
= 2k(r a).
27
MISN-0-138 AS-2
S-3 (from TX-4e)
_

B d

= 4k
m
I
(B)(2r) = 8
2
k
m
k(r a)
B = 4k
m
k
_
r a
r
_
S-4 (from PS-problem 8)
An integral is just the limit of a sum:
_

B d

= lim

.
Note that

B

is negative along the part of the path labeled C D.

Therefore the sum is negative for that part of the path and hence so is
the path integral for that segment of the path.
To do it formally, note that along that part of the path we have:
d

= xd
and

B = xB
so:
_
D
C
B x ( xd) = B
_
D
C
d = +B
_
D
C
dx = B
_
1.0 m
5.0 m
dx = 4.0B m.
28
MISN-0-138 ME-1
MODEL EXAM
1.
C
B A
D
3.0
y(m)
1.0
1.0 0
x(m)
5.0
B = 10 x teslas everywhere.
In a certain region of space, the magnetic eld intensity is uniform
and has the value of 10 teslas directed in the positive x-direction at
every point in the region. In this region consider a rectangular path in
the x-y plane from point A to point B parallel to the x-axis, B to C
parallel to the y-axis and D back to A parallel to the y-axis (see the
sketch above).
a. Evaluate the line integral of

B from A to B.
b. Do the same for the line from B to C.
c. Do the same for the line from C to D.
d. Do the same for the line from D to A.
e. Evaluate
_

B d around this closed path. Use the results of parts
(a)-(d) to nd your answer.
f. From your answer to part (e), determine the net current that must be
crossing the x-y plane through this rectangle ABCD.
2. Repeat Problem 1, parts (a) through (f) for the case where the mag-
netic eld in this region is given by

B = (A
0
+ A
1
y) x
where A
0
= 2 T, A
1
= 0.5 T/m and y is the y-coordinate of the point.
29
MISN-0-138 ME-2
3.
Path 2
Path 1
R
r
B
B
r
A
A
R = radius of the cylindrical conducting wire
j = the current per unit area (distributed uniformly) directed into the
page
r = the distance from the center to point A outside the conductor
r = the distance from the center to point B inside inside the conductor.
Path 1 (solid line) is a circular path surrounding the cylinder concentric
with the cylindrical conductor passing through point A.
Path 2 (dashed line) is an arbitrary path surrounding the conductor,
also passing through point A.
a. What is
_

B d for each of the paths 1 and 2?
b. Explain how symmetry enables you to evaluate

B at point A only
if you use path 1.
Brief Answers:
1. See Problem 8 in this modules Problem Supplement
2. See Problem 9 in this modules Problem Supplement
3. See Problem 10 in this modules Problem Supplement
30
31 32